From Refractory Epilepsy to Neurodegeneration: Emerging Mechanistic and Clinical Insights Into the Ketogenic Diet - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #ketogenic diet
- #epilepsy
- #neurodegeneration
- The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate intervention primarily used for drug-resistant epilepsy and increasingly explored for neurodegenerative disorders.
- KD reduces neuronal hyperexcitability by enhancing GABAergic transmission and modulating neurotransmitter balance, making it effective for refractory epilepsy.
- Emerging evidence suggests KD may influence disease processes in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease.
- Preclinical studies show KD can modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter signaling, and gut-brain interactions, though effects are context-dependent.
- Clinical data on KD is limited, heterogeneous, and short-term, with challenges in adherence and long-term safety assessment.
- The review highlights KD's neuroprotective mechanisms and evaluates its potential as an adjunctive therapy in neurological diseases.